US screenings of David Bowie Is Happening Now

“Hooked to the silver screen”

in coordination with the David Bowie Is exhibition opening at the MCA in September, tickets go on sale today for the nationwide US theatrical release of the V&A’s David Bowie Is Happening Now documentary film.

David Bowie Is Happening Now, a film of the exhibition created by the Victoria and Albert Museum, is scheduled for exclusive screenings in movie theatres across the US on September 23, 2014, distributed by Omniverse Vision.

The tickets for the 100 selected US theatres are on sale from today (July 31, 2014). To see the film trailer and book tickets, visit www.davidbowie.com/davidbowieisfilm.

This film takes the audience on an extraordinary journey through the David Bowie Is exhibition with special guests including legendary Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto, Pulp front-man Jarvis Cocker, and other collaborators, to explore the stories behind some of the key objects that document Bowie’s artistic career. The exhibition curators, Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh, provide fascinating insight into the most memorable works in the exhibition, revealing the creativity and evolution of Bowie’s ideas.

The documentary was filmed on the closing night of the V&A exhibition in London and directed by Hamish Hamilton, the BAFTA-winning Director of the Academy Awards and the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Details of the international release of the film to follow shortly.

David Bowie Is MCA tickets on general sale today

“The ticket’s in my hand”

Tickets for David Bowie Is at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago go on general public sale today at 10 am CST.

Individual tickets are $25 for adults and teens, $10 youth age 7–12, and free for children 6 and under. Price includes admission to see the rest of the museum.

Because the exhibition is ticketed by time, people need to select a date and time for a ticket to be issued. Tickets are sold in half-hour slots ending two hours before the museum closes for the day.

Tickets can be purchased online here or by calling the MCA Bowie Hotline at 312.397.4068 during museum hours.

David Bowie is was organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and is on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago from September 23, 2014 to January 4, 2015.

Keep reading for more special Bowie-related events during the exhibition’s run in Chicago.

MCA TALKS | Bowie

MCA Talk: Bryan Ferry and Michael Bracewell

Wednesday, September 17, 6 pm, tickets $5

Renowned singer, musician, and songwriter Bryan Ferry joins writer and curator Michael Bracewell, author of Roxy Music: Bryan Ferry, Brian Eno, Art, Ideas and Fashion, to discuss fame, music, and creative inspiration in anticipation of the exhibition David Bowie Is.

MCA Talk: Curating Bowie

Sunday, September 21, 1 pm, tickets $10

David Bowie Is curators Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London preview the exhibition, which opens September 23, and discuss Bowie’s life and work.

MCA Talk: Todd Haynes and Sandy Powell on Glam Rock

Sunday, October 5, 3 pm, tickets $10

Oscar-winning costume designer Sandy Powell and Oscar-nominated director Todd Haynes discuss movie-making, glam rock, and David Bowie. Haynes and Powell collaborated on the film Velvet Goldmine (1998) starring Christian Bale and Ewan McGregor in a tribute to the 1970s glam rock era, drawing on the histories and mythologies of David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Iggy Pop.  

MCA Talk: Simon Critchley Panel Discussion

Friday, November 7, 2 pm, tickets $5

Bowie, a new book by Simon Critchley, Chair of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York, combines personal narratives of Bowie’s life with meditations on identity while exploring Bowie’s songs. Critchley and panelists from a variety of disciplines discuss the singer’s life and music. 

MCA Talk: Kevin Barnes on David Bowie

Thursday, November 20, 6 pm, tickets $10

Kevin Barnes is the singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist for the indie rock band of Montreal. Barnes performs a selection of David Bowie covers and discusses the impact Bowie has on his work.

MCA LIVE | Bowie 

MCA Live: Covering Bowie

Select Tuesdays, 6-8pm, free for Illinois residents or with museum admission

Throughout the exhibition run of David Bowie Is, local Chicago musicians cover Bowie songs and albums.

September 23: White Mystery Covers Bowie

October 7: Tim Kinsella Covers Hunky Dory

November 4: ONO Covers Bowie

MCA FAMILY DAY | Bowie

MCA Family Day: Dare

Saturday, October 11, 11 am – 3 pm, free for families with children ages 12 and under

Inspired by David Bowie, families explore risk and chance with bold and daring art activities.

MCA Family Day: Changes

Saturday, November 8, 11 am – 3 pm, free for families with children ages 12 and under

Inspired by David Bowie, families explore transformation, change, and different points-of-view.

MCA STAGE | Bowie

David Bowie Variety Hour

September 26–27, tickets $20; students $10

MCA Stage presents an eclectic combination of Chicago performers celebrating David Bowie.  Curated by Jyldo and accompanied by Nick Davio’s house band, the program features Chicago club and stage stars, including BAATHHAUS, Chicago Tap Theatre, BOOM CRACK! Dance Company, dance tribute queen Kasey Foster, and LADY/WATCH.

Michael Clark Company: come, been and gone

October 25–27, 2014, tickets $28; students $10

In his first Chicago appearance, British choreographer Michael Clark presents this critically acclaimed production performed primarily to the music of David Bowie. One of the most influential dance artists of his time, Clark creates work that combines classical ingenuity with an experimental sensibility, exploring contrasting themes of virtue and vice, abandon and control, grace and embarrassment. Clark collaborated with pioneer dance filmmaker and video artist Charles Atlas on the production’s lighting design. 

Bowie Changes

Tickets $20; students $10 (each performance is ticketed separately)

Chicago musicians re-create three of David Bowie’s classic albums in this performance series.

November 15: Bobby Conn - Wearing glitter and high heels, Bobby Conn plays Station to Station, channelling Bowie’s Thin White Duke persona.

November 21: Jon Langford and Sally Timms - Jon Langford and Sally Timms, former collaborators in the post-punk band The Mekons, reunite to perform Bowie love songs, including Modern Love.

November 22: Disappears - The indie rock band Disappears re-creates the studio album Low, bringing to light Bowie’s first collaboration with Brian Eno.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS | Bowie

David Bowie Tribute Concert at Daley Plaza

Tuesday, September 23, noon - 1 pm

Celebrating the opening day of the David Bowie Is exhibition at the MCA, WXRT, Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the MCA present a concert on Daley Plaza featuring the Sons of the Silent Age, the leading David Bowie cover band. Sons of the Silent Age, led by Chris Connelly (Ministry and the Revolting Cocks) and Matt Walker (Morrissey and Smashing Pumpkins), honors the music and aesthetic of David Bowie in their impressive selection of songs taken from the eclectic and extensive canon of David Bowie.

Showtime to air Five Years doc from Friday

“We've got five years, stuck on my eyes”

US Bowie fans get a chance to see Francis Whately’s superb award winning documentary, David Bowie - Five Years: The Making Of An Icon, when it begins airing on Showtime on Friday, Aug 1 at 9pm ET/PT.

For those unfamiliar with the film, here’s the synopsis from Showtime...

DAVID BOWIE: FIVE YEARS

An intimate documentary spanning five key years in David Bowie's music career, featuring a wealth of unseen footage and charting the star's continual evolution through various roles, making him an icon of our times. This portrait explores Bowie's regeneration in Berlin, and his numerous critical triumphs, and features interviews with all of his closest collaborators.

Visit the Showtime Five Years page to view trailers and more. We’ll leave you with the list of upcoming airings (All Times ET/PT):

DAVID BOWIE: FIVE YEARS:

Fri, Aug 01, 9:00 PM SHOWTIME

Sat, Aug 02, 1:00 AM SHOWTIME

Sat, Aug 02, 1:00 PM SHOWTIME

Sun, Aug 03, 7:00 PM SHO 2

Mon, Aug 04, 5:30 PM SHOWTIME SHOWCASE

Tue, Aug 05, 10:00 PM SHO 2

Wed, Aug 06, 10:00 PM SHOWTIME

Fri, Aug 08, 3:30 PM SHO 2

Sun, Aug 10, 8:00 PM SHOWTIME SHOWCASE

Mon, Aug 11, 7:00 PM SHO 2

Tue, Aug 12, 5:15 PM SHOWTIME

Sat, Aug 16, 4:00 PM SHOWTIME SHOWCASE

Wed, Aug 20, 7:00 PM SHOWTIME

KOW is MOJO’s vinyl package of the month

“You got me spinning, baby”

The September edition of MOJO magazine has the upcoming Knock On Wood 40th Anniversary picture disc as their vinyl package of the month...not a bad feat for a 45!

And that’s without them knowing about The Stereo Boutique’s excellent pre-order bundle which includes the picture disc and a commemorative ticket stub replica from Bowie’s 1974 show at the Tower Theater, Philadelphia, from where Knock On Wood was recorded.

Pre-order your bundle here now, before it sells out again!

A-Side Knock On Wood (David Live - 2005 Mix)

(Steve Cropper/Eddie Floyd)

Produced & mixed by Tony Visconti

Recorded live at Tower Theater, Philadelphia, July 1974

AA - Rock 'n' Roll With Me (David Live - 2005 Mix)

Produced & mixed by Tony Visconti

Recorded live at Tower Theater, Philadelphia, July 1974

KNOCK ON WOOD (LIVE) / ROCK 'N' ROLL WITH ME (LIVE) is released on Parlophone September 22nd 2014.

Sound + Vision boxset repack press release

DAVID BOWIE SOUND+VISION

Four CD Box Set Released September 22nd

The Sound+Vision 4 cd boxset covers DAVID BOWIE’s career from 1969 to 1994 starting with the acoustic demo version of his first hit, Space Oddity to the return to his Bromley roots for the soundtrack to Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha Of Suburbia which is often cited as the most underrated piece in the Bowie canon.

As his surprise return with The Next Day showed, Bowie continues to be a cutting edge musician and artist, icon, fashion guru, and all round inspiration to several generations and remains a unique phenomenon in contemporary culture.

Sound+Vision is a collection spanning four decades, covering the 21 albums from Space Oddity through to The Buddha Of Suburbia. It’s a rich survey of David Bowie’s many musical lives offering a generous helping of hits, an intriguing dip into archives, classic album tracks and long lost B-sides, explosive live recordings, soundtrack recordings and remixes.

Sound+Vision also documents Bowie’s ever-onward work aesthetic. From Dylan inspired folkie (The Wild-Eyed Boy From Freecloud) to the hard-rocking hero of grunge legends Nirvana (‘The Man Who Sold The World’); from Glam Rock superstar (Ziggy Stardust) to white soul pioneer (Young Americans); electronica trailblazer (Warszawa) to first New Romantic (Ashes To Ashes); stadium filling star (Modern Love) to high endurance 90s legend (Jump They Say). He’s been there – and back again - often before anyone else has.

Other albums recorded by Bowie after the time span of this box set are Outside (1995), Earthling (1997), ‘hours…’ (1999), Heathen (2002), Reality (2003) and The Next Day (2013).

DAVID BOWIE SOUND+VISION Tracklisting:

CD1:

1/ Space Oddity (original demo 1969)

2/ The Wild-Eyed Boy From Freecloud (rare B-side version 1969)

3/ The Prettiest Star (single version 1970)

4/ London Bye Ta-Ta (stereo mix recorded 1970)

5/ Black Country Rock (from The Man Who Sold The World)

6/ The Man Who Sold The World (from The Man Who Sold The World)

7/ The Bewlay Brothers (from Hunky Dory)

8/ Changes (from Hunky Dory)

9/ Round And Round (alternate vocal take 1971)

10/Moonage Daydream (from The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars)

11/John I'm Only Dancing (Aladdin Sane outtake 1973)

12/Drive-In Saturday (from Aladdin Sane 1973)

13/Panic In Detroit (from Aladdin Sane 1973)

14/Ziggy Stardust (live from Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture 1973)

15/White Light/White Heat (live from Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture 1973)

16/Rock 'n’ Roll Suicide (live from Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture 1973)

17/Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (from Pinups 1973)

18/Sorrow (from Pinups 1973)

19/Don't Bring Me Down (from Pinups 1973)

CD 2:

1/ 1984/Dodo (recorded 1973)

2/ Big Brother (from Diamond Dogs 1974)

3/ Rebel Rebel (rare single version 1974)

4/ Suffragette City (from David Live 1974)

5/ Watch That Man (from David Live 1974)

6/ Cracked Actor (from David Live 1974)

7/ Young Americans (from Young Americans 1975)

8/ Fascination (from Young Americans 1975)

9/ After Today (Young Americans outtake 1975)

10/It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City (recorded 1975)

11/TVC15 (from Station To Station 1976)

12/Wild Is The Wind (from Station To Station 1976)

13/Sound And Vision (from Low 1977)

14/Be My Wife (from Low 1977)

15/Speed Of Life (from Low 1977)

16/”Helden” (German version of Heroes - 1989 remix)

17/Joe The Lion (from Heroes 1977)

18/Sons Of The Silent Age (from Heroes 1977)

CD 3:

1/ Station To Station (from Stage 1978)

2/ Warszawa (from Stage 1978)

3/ Breaking Glass (from Stage 1978)

4/ Red Sails (from Lodger 1979)

5/ Look Back In Anger (from Lodger 1979)

6/ Boys Keep Swinging (from Lodger 1979)

7/ Up The Hill Backwards (from Scary Monsters 1980)

8/ Kingdom Come (from Scary Monsters 1980)

9/ Ashes To Ashes (from Scary Monsters 1980)

10/Baal’s Hymn (from Baal E.P.)

11/Drowned Girl (from Baal E.P.)

12/Cat People (Putting Out Fire) (soundtrack album version)

13/China Girl (from Let’s Dance)

14/Ricochet (from Let’s Dance)

15/Modern Love (Live) (B-side)

16/Loving The Alien (from Tonight)

17/Dancing With The Big Boys (from Tonight)

CD 4:

1/ Blue Jean (from Tonight)

2/ Time Will Crawl (from Never Let Me Down)

3/ Baby Can Dance (from Tin Machine)

4/ Amazing (from Tin Machine)

5/ I Can’t Read (from Tin Machine)

6/ Shopping For Girls (from Tin Machine II)

7/ Goodbye Mr. Ed (from Tin Machine II)

8/ Amlapura (from Tin Machine II)

9/ You've Been Around (from Black Tie White Noise)

10/Nite Flights (Moodswings Back To Basics Remix Radio Edit)

11/Pallas Athena (Gone Midnight Mix)

12/Jump They Say (from Black Tie White Noise)

13/Buddha Of Suburbia (from The Buddha Of Suburbia)

14/Dead Against It (from The Buddha Of Suburbia)

15/South Horizon (from The Buddha Of Suburbia)

16/Pallas Athena (Live as Tao Jones Index)

The Art of the Song : David Bowie in Dublin Tonight

“The clock waits so patiently on your song”

Good luck to all those involved with this evening’s sold out concert at The National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland.

The Art of the Song : David Bowie, looks like it’s going to be something special so please do let us know how it went if you’re attending.

The event focuses on the music of David Bowie and features Lisa Hannigan, Duke Special, Jape, Caoimhin O’Raghallaigh, Heathers and Adrian Crowley.

Here’s the official blurb...

The Art of the Song : David Bowie

As part of Summer @ NCH

Saturday 26th July, 8pm

Main Auditorium

Featuring: Lisa Hannigan, Duke Special, Jape, Heathers, Adrian Crowley

The Band: Ross Turner (I am the Cosmos, Lisa Hannigan, Jape), Glenn Keating (Jape, Somadrone, The Redneck Manifesto), Rian Trench (Solar Bears), Donal Gunne (Túcan), Caoimhin Ó Raghallaigh (The Gloaming, This is How We Fly), Seán Mac Erlaine (This is How We Fly)

A new occasional series sees the National Concert Hall bring some of Ireland’s most exciting artists together to pay tribute to the great writers of modern music. This show sees Lisa Hannigan, Duke Special, Jape, Caoimhin O’Raghallaigh, Heathers and Adrian Crowley pay tribute to the Thin White Duke.

“As was the case with Miles Davis in jazz, Bowie has come not just to represent his innovations but to symbolize modern rock as an idiom in which literacy, art, fashion, style, sexual exploration and social commentary can be rolled into one.” Rolling Stone magazine

From July 1969 when Space Oddity hit to UK Top Ten through to the flamboyant, androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust, spearheaded by the hit single "Starman" and the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, David Bowie has created a modern canon of work marked by its constant re-invention and exploration. This went on to feature his landmark  Berlin Trilogy of albums, his collaborations with Brian Eno and Lou Reed right through to blue-eyed soul of Fame and mainstream American success. He has recently released the unanimously acclaimed The Next Day.

Emerging from the Hall’s Artist Writing Space project, this concert will see some of those Resident Artists, some of Dublin’s innovators and most acclaimed singers address the considerable work of David Bowie.

Presented by The National Concert Hall

Supported by Newstalk 106 and The Irish Independent

Momus tribute to Bowie at Café Oto in September

“Only one man could be seen”

Since his cover of Where Are We Now? released on the same day as Bowie’s original last year, Momus has graced these pages more than once.

On September 13th 2014, he will perform a cabaret featuring the songs of David Bowie live at London's Cafe Oto.

In preparation for the gig and along with the Bowie covers Momus has already uploaded to YouTube, he has posted another six Bowie covers in the shape of: DJ, Joe The Lion, Candidate, The Bewlay Brothers, Letter to Hermione and Conversation Piece, all in the last week.

We caught the Momus show at Cafe Oto back in March when he performed a brilliantly bonkers set peppered with Bowie references, including a histrionic version of Ashes To Ashes and a kind of mash-up of Fantastic Voyage over a backing of Boys Keep Swinging, called Fantastic Swinging.

He even referenced the closing moments of Bowie’s performance of Boys Keep Swinging on the Kenny Everett Video Show in 1979, which our exclusive image of Momus also alludes to.

Here follows a lovely tribute from the absurdly prolific Momus regarding An Evening with Dybbuk Momie - A Cabaret Featuring the Songs of David Bowie

“David Bowie is the cultural figure without whom I as Momus simply wouldn't have existed: a genius, a massively liberating presence producing prolifically throughout five decades, an enthusiastic index of cultural connections, a sort of internet-before-the-internet. Like the dybbuk of Jewish mythology, Bowie is a sum of stolen souls, a collection of all the most impressive gestures and talents of cultural figures he's encountered and been smitten by. I want to make an unashamedly dark and leftfield take concentrating on the early cabaret work, the demos, the flickering shadows of Brecht and Brel, the avant-garde and eccentric moments, the symphonic poems. Songs Bowie has never performed live himself will be unfurled in unexpected yet faithful new readings, accompanied by video projections showing the many imitators whose souls the great dybbuk has so wonderfully spirited away.”

Go here for more information and to book tickets for both the Bowie tribute on the 13th and the Momus tribute to Howard Devoto on the previous evening.

Avantgarde announces Bowie Berlin extension

“And 75,000 peoploids split into small tribes”

You’ve no doubt seen the announcement from Avantgarde.de regarding the two week extension to David Bowie at the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin until 24 August 2014.

This comes at the same time as the news that the Berlin exhibition has attracted 75,000 visitors thus far.

Fans have travelled the globe to see the expanded Berlin room, which now includes exclusive images (such as those pictured here), along with many other Bowie-in-Berlin-related goodies.

Check out Avantgarde.de for further details and ticket links.

Meanwhile, here’s the info regarding the two brilliant images accompanying this item.

David playback at Hansa Studio, 1977

Courtesy of The David Bowie Archive

Image © Coco Schwab

Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Coco Schwab, East Berlin, 1977

Courtesy of The David Bowie Archive

Unidentified photographer 

Dylan Howe’s Jazz take on Bowie's Berlin

“New Music: Night And Day”

Six years in the making, Dylan Howe’s new album, SUBTERRANEAN - New Designs On Bowie's Berlin, is finally released this week.

Subterranean is Howe’s first studio album in ten years and it’s made up of his arrangements of tracks from Bowie’s influential Berlin Trilogy era releases, Low and "Heroes".

We’re loving it here at DBFBHQ, but don't take our word for how good it is. Here are a few quotations from recent reviews...

“An exquisite take on Bowie’s late 70s largely instrumental collaborations with Brian Eno. Subterranean possibly glimpses how Coltrane may have interpreted Bowie. Howe combines a great concept, a superb band and his own significant talents as a drummer and arranger to deliver his best album to date.”

Rhythm Magazine

“A beguiling jazz rethink of Berlin-era Bowie. 8/10.”

Uncut Magazine (Also featured in Uncut’s Top 20 Best Albums of 2014)

“Probably one of the UK’s most important and vital drummers..."Subterranean" is an audacious and  astounding piece of work that should be in every music collection - a real triumph - 9/10.”

Blues & Soul

“A splendid recording - gorgeously intimate…A project for which he deserves huge credit. 4 stars”

Jazzwise

Here’s the tracklisting:

1. Subterraneans 08:23

2. Weeping Wall 07:04

3. All Saints 11:04

4. Some Are 06:29

5. Neuköln - Night 04:59

6. Art Decade 04:41

7. Warszawa 11:07

8. Neuköln - Day 05:28

9. Moss Garden 06:23

Check out the dedicated bandcamp page where you can listen to the album in full, and if you like what you hear, there are various EXTREMELY limited formats available to purchase on the same page. There are also details of Dylan’s upcoming autumn tour.

FOOTNOTE: Those of you wondering about today’s lyric quotation would be right in concluding that New Music: Night And Day was never a Bowie lyric. However, it was the original title for Low and it ties in nicely with Howe’s night and day versions of Neuköln.

PHILIP GLASS: Symphony No.1 "Low"

Finally, the other CD in our illustration is the recently released new recording of Philip Glass’s Low Symphony, performed by Basel Sinfonieorchester and conducted by Dennis Russell Davies.

This is considered to be a superior performance of the work compared with previously available versions.

Nile Rodgers & Prince do Bowie at Essence

“Let’s Dance, to the song we’re playing” 

Prince made a surprise appearance during Nile Rodgers’ set on Friday night at the 20th Essence Festival in New Orleans, making July 4th even more of a celebration when he joined the Chic leader on guitar for a cover of Bowie’s 1983 worldwide smash hit, Let’s Dance, a song which Rodgers co-produced with Bowie.

Nile’s tweets and posts on his FB page over the last 24 hours or so (below) say it all.

“Nile Rodgers & Prince jamming on David Bowie's "Let's Dance"”

“I'm still flipping out over this moment”

“I'm still reliving this show”

“How Proud Am I at This Moment? Playing "Let's Dance" w Prince is so symbolic. That album w Bowie changed my life... ”

There’s a fan-filmed teaser compilation on YouTube, but a full-length video of the performance is yet to surface...unless you know differently? 

Ziggy Stardust enters charts 42 years ago today

“Became the special man” 

David Bowie’s 1972 classic, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, entered the UK album chart at #15 this day (July 1st) 42 years ago, beginning the start of its slow ascent to the Top Five.

It was the first time a Bowie album had entered the chart, and this was at the same time as Starman was enjoying a second week in the Top 50 at #41. (Eventually peaking at #10)

Ziggymania had begun in earnest in the UK and with the Top Of The Pops broadcast of Starman the following week, David Bowie’s fate was sealed.

Marc Almond on Bowie, TV and joining Holy Holy

“Oh by jingo”

The enigma that is Marc Almond has been added to the bill for Tony Visconti and Holy Holy’s performance of The Man Who Sold The World at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire on September 22nd.

He will sing After All in the first part of the show and he’ll also duet with Glenn Gregory on Watch That Man for the second part of the evening.

We approached Marc with a few questions regarding his appreciation of all things Bowie and how he found working with Tony Visconti on his excellent new album, The Dancing Marquis. (Marc is pictured with Tony here)

He very kindly obliged and here follows that short Q&A.

Was your first introduction to Bowie via Starman or were you aware of him before that?

I first read about Bowie, before I’d really heard him. Articles, interviews, mentions and photos in the music press of the early 70s. So I became a fan before I’d even heard a note. Of course I knew Space Oddity and had seen him perform it on Top Of The Pops but I never really associated that David Bowie with the one I was reading about at that time. It was around the time of The Man Who Sold The World and Hunky Dory that he really started to strike a chord. I remember very well the first time I saw a photo of the famous album cover of TMWSTW of him in what looked like a dress. It was the most daring and alluring thing I’d seen from a singer. I heard his sessions on John Peel and was transfixed by his voice, sound and lyrics. He was unlike anything else. The first album I was able to buy was Ziggy Stardust, as it coincided with me having some money of my own. Before then I could only afford singles occasionally. After that I bought everything he had made previously and thereafter.

You first saw Bowie live in 1973. You have recalled that you were attacked on the way to that gig because of the way you looked. Can you remember what you wore and what happened at the gig?

I saw Bowie live at the Liverpool Empire in 1973 (Sunday June 10). I have told this story on a few occasions. On the train on the way to see him, I got beaten up for dressing up with my friends in glitter and makeup. I was hit over the head with a bottle. I wasn't hurt seriously but I was bleeding. I refused to let it stop me from enjoying the show. I climbed over seats and pushed my way to the front of the stage. Bowie had the circle on his forehead and the Japanese inspired costumes including the one with one arm and one leg. He looked otherworldly, incredible. As he sang Rock ’N’ Roll Suicide I reached up my hand, blood, makeup and glitter were running down my face. He reached down to touch the outstretched hands of fans and took my hand, “Give me your hand”. I've always said that it was a Glam Rock epiphany. It was one of the most magical things that has happened to me. I've seen many Bowie shows since but that one will always be extra special.

Were Bowie's versions of My Death and Amsterdam your introduction to Jacques Brel?

It was hearing Bowie's versions of Brel that really turned me onto Brel in a big way. When I turned over Bowie’s single Sorrow and played Amsterdam on the B-side, it really was a seminal influential moment. I had been aware of Brel through hearing Scott Walker and Alex Harvey but it was Bowie who really sanctioned Brel as being very cool. Bowie opened up a whole world to me. When Bowie mentioned a Singer or a Writer or Artist I had to check them out and they would become a big part of my cultural sphere. Genet, Lou Reed, Lindsay Kemp. Iggy Pop, Brel and many more. When Bowie recorded Pin Ups, all the artists he covered were instantly cool. His influence on Pop Culture was and is enormous. I’m sure it was the same for many musicians of my generation. Bowie taught me what my teachers at school couldn’t.

You've released a live version of Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide and an affectionately faithful version of The London Boys (produced and arranged by Tris Penna). Are there any other Bowie tracks you have recorded or play live?

Rock ’N’ Roll Suicide I sometimes do in acoustic shows. London Boys has always been a favourite song of mine and my version on Stardom Road is quite faithful to the original arrangements because I love them so much. In my version I sing from a different view point, thinking of a 1970s documentary called Johnny Go Home (a film about Rent Boys in London’s Piccadilly), and my own experiences of coming to London for the first time, “the first time that you tried a pill”...club experiences, loneliness, trying to be someone. I did get a message through other people that David did approve of my version which I hope was true. I sometimes perform John, I’m Only Dancing in my live shows.

You were obviously aware of Tony Visconti’s extraordinary production skills via Marc Bolan and T Rex. But when did you first realise he had produced Bowie too?

Of course Tony Visconti was originally well known to me as the less visible though important member of T.Rex and Tyrannosaurus Rex, as his production credit was on all the records. But it was through The Man Who Sold The World, the 1972 re-issue, that I first became aware of him as Bowie's producer too. After that Space Oddity. Tony, I felt, must be the World's greatest producer as he was behind the records of my favourite Artists.

How important an album was TMWSTW to you at the time?

Though I loved Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane and all the Bowie records I first bought, TMWSTW was my favourite. It was darker, the lyrics more intriguing, mystical, and I loved that. I hated the cover of the re-issue and as soon as I was able to get an album with the original cover, I did. The arrangements are wonderful, textured, early synth and Mellotron sounds and what sounds like a Clavioline on After All. Mick Ronson’s guitar shines particularly on Width Of A Circle. It was one of my favourite live numbers, Bowie and Ronson duelling in strobe light and the infamous guitar fellatio. My favourite tracks on TMWSTW are Width Of A Circle, After All and The Supermen.

What did you think of the David Bowie is exhibition at the V&A?

The exhibition was overwhelming and left me with many mixed emotions and feelings. On one hand seeing the costumes from the shows was like greeting old friends after a long time. But, in another sense it was like saying goodbye to them forever. The costumes of course were always going to look better in my memory, under stage lights and filled out by the Artist himself. In some ways it felt like the death of part of myself and definitely my Teenage Years. I remember talking to Tony Visconti (who was the prize exhibit in the exhibition) as he looked fascinated into a glass case at some lyrics he'd last seen in a studio many years back. It was a fabulous, fascinating, poignant and oddly sad experience. I told Tony afterwards that I had gone home and cried for the loss of myself. Where a performing music artist is concerned, only a Bowie Exhibition could evoke those strong emotions. The opening of the exhibition was odd anyway, everybody was so busy being ’on’ that it was too edgy, many of us that had grown up with Bowie probably feeling the same feeling of being overwhelmed. I went back on a later date where i could spend more time and luxuriate.

You're teaming up with Tony Visconti and Holy Holy for the Shepherd's Bush show to sing After All. How did you decide on that particular song?

Tony V and Tom Wilcox chose After All for me to sing at the show. They could see what they felt would suit my voice and they were right, it’s one of my favourites from the album.

Tony worked on some of the songs for your latest album, The Dancing Marquis, including the delicious Burn Bright which was released as a single last year. How did those sessions go generally? 

The sessions for The Dancing Marquis were some of the most fun and exciting sessions I’d done in a long time. Tony ignited my love for making some Pop Music again. The music that Tony produced has been some of the most important and influential music in my life and to finally work with him completed the circle for me. As well as producing the songs The Dancing Marquis and Burn Bright, Tony also arranged and recorded strings and mixed for me The Death Of A Dandy and Tasmanian Tiger. It was a thrill for me to have Tony bring some of his recording secrets and trademarks to the sessions. These songs will be up there with the songs I’m most proud of in my career as a recording Artist.

Thanks again Marc, we look forward to seeing you on September 22nd. 

Keep an eye on the Holy Holy FB page for updates on the tour and get your tickets for Shepherd's Bush before you no longer can,

Knock On Wood picture disc pre-order bundle

“It's no secret, but that offer fills my lovin' cup” 

We told you about the next 40th Anniversary picture disc, Knock On Wood, last month. (Knock On Wood is next 40th Anniversary Picture Disc) 

Well now, The Stereo Boutique is offering a pre-order bundle comprising the picture disc and a very cool commemorative ticket stub replica from Bowie’s 1974 show at the Tower Theater, Philadelphia.

The ticket is from one of the nights during the stint at The Tower from where Knock On Wood was recorded as part of the David Live album. A night that would cost you a mere $7.50 to see the Diamond Dogs show! Where’s that time machine?

Pre-order your bundle here now.

A-Side Knock On Wood (David Live - 2005 Mix)

(Steve Cropper/Eddie Floyd)

Produced & mixed by Tony Visconti

Recorded live at Tower Theater, Philadelphia, July 1974

AA - Rock 'n' Roll With Me (David Live - 2005 Mix)

Produced & mixed by Tony Visconti

Recorded live at Tower Theater, Philadelphia, July 1974

Guinness and Armstrong join Holy Holy for Garage gig

“That rock 'n' roll lady takes a space-ship ride”

Daphne Guinness and Kevin Armstrong will be guests of Tony Visconti and Woody Woodmansey for the Holy Holy show at The Garage in London on September 17.

Daphne is an artist, actress, model, designer and singer who has recently recorded with Tony, though Bowie fans may be more familiar with her beautiful face via a photoshoot she did for Vogue Germany (January 2012), which included striking Bowie-flavoured recreations from Aladdin Sane through TJ Newton. (http://smarturl.it/DaphneBowieVogue)

Guitarist Kevin Armstrong worked with David Bowie from 1985-1995 including on Absolute Beginners, the Tin Machine I album and attendant tour, on 1. Outside – co-writing the title track with Bowie – and also as musical director at Live Aid and the Bowie/Jagger version of Dancing In The Street.

Kevin will be reunited on stage with Erdal Kizilcay at The Garage; Kevin and Erdal recorded together with David Bowie on Iggy Pop’s 1986 Blah Blah Blah album. The pair also performed the 1988 version of Look Back In Anger live with David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels at the Dominion Theatre in July 1988, as part of the Intruders At The Palace benefit concert for the ICA.

There will be a further surprise guest appearance at the Garage.

For those that haven't bought tickets already, the Holy Holy tour dates are:

Talk

Tony Visconti and Woody Woodmansey: The Making of David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold The World

September 16 ICA London - http://smarturl.it/TVandWWtalkICA

Gigs

September 17 London - SOLD OUT!

September 18 Sheffield - http://smarturl.it/SheffieldTMWSTWtix

September 20 Glasgow - http://smarturl.it/GlasgowTMWSTWtix

September 22 London, with Marc Almond - http://smarturl.it/London2TMWSTWtix

Holy Holy will release their debut limited edition double A side picture disc single on September 15: We Are King / Holy Holy, via Maniac Squat Records.

Colour photo by Mark Wardel - Mono photo by Bryan Adams. 

Bowie’s 2002 Meltdown triumph

“Memory Of A Meltdown Festival”

Hard to imagine that it was exactly twelve years ago this very night that David Bowie closed the tenth Meltdown Festival (which he also curated), with an evening called The New Heathens at The Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank.

Performing both 1977’s Low album and the new release Heathen, he hadn’t gigged at the venue for thirty years, when he played the Save The Whale benefit on July 8 1972. His guest that night was Lou Reed.

For the 2002 show, Bowie and band played to a highly appreciative audience of fans and celebrities and this festival finale was considered the highlight of the whole two-week run,.

Aside from Low and Heathen, the five-song encore included a version of The Velvet Underground’s White Light, White Heat performed with support, The Dandy Warhols, in a nod to that 1972 performance with Lou Reed.

David is pictured here at rehearsals at the venue earlier the same day.

(Scroll the images here for pictures from the show and the aftershow)

Capaldi’s Doctor Who based on Bowie

“Get me to The Doctor”

According to The Sunday Express, Peter Capaldi’s take on Dr Who has a bit of a Bowie influence. Here’s a bit from the online version.

The Thin White Doc: New Doctor Who based on David Bowie

EVERY new Doctor Who puts a unique spin on the character – and Peter Capaldi is no exception.

By: Jaymi McCann - Published: Sun, June 29, 2014

David Bowie has inspired Peter Capaldi’s version of the inconic Time Lord [BBC/PH]

The 55-year-old took inspiration from music legend David Bowie when embarking on his tenure as the 12th incarnation of the Time Lord.

His sleek costume was praised when it was previewed in January but the decision to include a buttoned-up white shirt was inspired by Bowie, according to insiders.

The singer sported a similar look as the Thin White Duke, his persona on the Station To Station album cover and in the film The Man Who Fell To Earth.

The source said Capaldi had decided Bowie was the ideal template for his Doctor: “He explained he drew inspiration for his Doctor Who look from his ‘scrapbook of ideas’. He thought Bowie was the perfect look.”

It was no secret that Peter was a Ziggy Stardust fan, and the actor revealed last year he attended three out of four Bowie concerts as a young fan in Glasgow, missing the last one only because he couldn’t afford it.

The first episode of the new series airs on August 23 on BBC One.

Our insert picture of David Bowie is the buttoned-up TJ Newton, showing off his sonic screwdriver on the set of The Man Who Fell To Earth.

Original picture of Bowie taken by Geoff MacCormack in 1975. View this and many other of Geoff’s incredible Bowie pictures in Genesis Publications’ brilliant STATION to STATION - Travels with Bowie 1973 -1976.

Bowie’s 2000 return to Glastonbury

“Divine symmetry”

Around about exactly fourteen years ago tonight, thousands of peoploids were marvelling at David Bowie’s triumphant return to Glastonbury after an absence of a mere twenty nine years.

In our pictures (which are only separated by around two hours) you can see that he sported a similar hairdo to his June 23 1971 appearance.

Though it has to be said the Alexander McQueen coat probably cost a few bob more than the ‘magic cloak’ he wore for his first visit. (Scroll images for comparison)

This set was witnessed by considerably more people in 2000 than in 1971 and didn’t every one of us have a blast?!

Ottawa Citizen apology to David Bowie

Canadian newspaper, The Ottawa Citizen, has just posted an apology to David Bowie regarding the removal of Chris Hadfield's Space Oddity on YouTube.

Here follows that apology in full.

Apology to David Bowie

On May 16, 2014, The Ottawa Citizen published a prominent commentary piece written by Blayne Haggart on our op-ed page that David Bowie was responsible for the removal from YouTube of astronaut Chris Hadfield's video version of "Space Oddity" which was viewed over 22 million times. The commentary erroneously claimed that Mr. Bowie refused to renew a one-year license previously granted to Commander Hadfield, ultimately forcing the video to be removed from worldwide distribution.

That was incorrect. Subsequent to running this piece, we were informed by Mr. Bowie of the following facts: In April of 2013, while Commander Hadfield was still in space, his people contacted Mr. Bowie to seek permission to make the video.

They were informed that while Mr. Bowie would give his full support to the use of the song by Commander Hadfield, Space Oddity was the only one of more than 300 songs he has written and recorded for which he did not own or control the copyright. Mr. Bowie offered to have his people call the publisher and convey his strong support, but he had no ability to personally dictate any of the terms of the license or even require the publishers to issue one.

Immediately thereafter, Mr. Bowie made contact with the publisher of the composition expressing his wish that they allow Commander Hadfield the right to record and synchronize his recording to the video he was proposing to make. Mr. Bowie strongly suggested that the license be immediately issued at no charge and that the creation of this video had his enthusiastic support.

One year later, the Citizen erroneously published that Mr. Bowie had granted the original license but failed to renew the license after one year. The commentary published by the Citizen also erroneously implied that Mr. Bowie was the reason the video had to be removed from YouTube and questioned how his actions could have "made the world a better place." The article caused an immediate reaction by thousands of fans worldwide, and this incorrect information was picked up by hundreds of other news sources around the world.

On behalf of Blayne Haggart and ourselves, we regret the error and we sincerely apologize to Mr. Bowie as well as all his fans around the world.

The Ottawa Citizen, June 24, 2014

View the online version here. 

Life On Mars? Yesterday and Tomorrow

“Mars happy nation”

David Bowie’s Life On Mars? 45 was released forty one years ago yesterday in the UK. The 40th anniversary picture disc was released a year ago tomorrow.

The track was taken from the 1971 album, Hunky Dory, but was released as a single in 1973 in the UK to capitalise on its popularity as a live number during the Aladdin Sane Tour of the same year. It reached #3 on the UK singles chart.

In an article that accompanied the June 2008 issue of The Mail on Sunday’s free cover-mount CD, iSELECTBOWIE, Bowie described the creation of the song:

“This song was so easy. Being young was easy. A really beautiful day in the park, sitting on the steps of the bandstand. ‘Sailors bap-bap-bap-bap-baaa-bap’. An anomic (not a ‘gnomic’) heroine. Middle class ecstasy. I took a walk to Beckenham High Street to catch a bus to Lewisham to buy shoes and shirts but couldn’t get the riff out of my head. Jumped off two stops into the ride and more or less loped back to the house up on Southend Road.

Workspace was a big empty room with a chaise lounge; a bargain priced art nouveau screen (‘William Morris’ so I told anyone who asked); a huge overflowing freestanding ashtray and a grand piano. Little else. I started working it out on the piano and had the whole lyric and melody finished by late afternoon. Nice. Rick Wakeman came over a couple of weeks later and embellished the piano part and guitarist Mick Ronson created one of his first and best string parts for this song which now has become something of a fixture in my live shows.”

Mick Rock shot the iconic and quite beautiful video for the original single release. View it here.

Berlin Loves Bowie

“Somebody plays my song in tune”

Extraordinary amount of press covering the current run of David Bowie is in Berlin. Pictured here are a few of the front covers, and as you’ve no doubt noticed our headline is the translation of the zittyBERLIN exclamation.

An interesting item came with the May issue of German Rolling Stone (http://smarturl.it/GermanRS) in the shape of a cover-mount CD accompanying the 8-page feature inside..

The CD features ten exclusive Bowie covers and very good it is too. Here’s the tracklisting...

DAVID BOWIE - RECOVERED

01 - Lambert – Art Decade

02 - King Khan & The Shrines – Suffragette City

03 - Chuckamuck – Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide

04 - Erfolg – Fame

05 - Phia & Josh – As The World Falls Down

06 - Brace / Choir – Candidate (Demo Versions)

07 - Kool Thing – Station To Station

08 - Emika – Let’s Dance (Shoklee-Emikaized Version)

09 - Andrea Schroeder – “Helden” (Radio Edit)

10 - Mary Ocher – Where Are We Now?

We had the good fortune to attend the Berliner Festspiele Bowie Day last weekend, during which the majority of the bands on the CD performed at the evening gala on Sunday.

Below is the full line up of the presentation with bands marked thus* that played at the gala, but sadly weren’t on the CD.

Chuckamuck – Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide

Kool Thing – Station To Station

Auf – “Helden”

Lambert – Art Decade

Fashion show from the participants of the workshop “MGB Impuls²” of the Martin-Gropius-Bau.

Gemma Ray – The Man Who Sold The World *

Black Cracker – Changes *

Erfolg – Fame

Short video clip compilation of the social media action “Cover your favourite David Bowie song” View the full length videos here.

Mary Ocher – Where Are We Now?

Emika – Let’s Dance

Jemek Jemowit – DJ *

The ten artists played to a very appreciative audience and generally tried a different approach to the Bowie songs than you might expect.

We hope to bring you a more in-depth report with pictures shortly.